Peripheral mononeuropathy is a nerve related disease where a single nerve, that is used to transport messages from the brain to the peripheral body, is diseased or damaged. Peripheral neuropathy is a general term that indicates any disorder of the peripheral nervous system. The name of the disorder itself can be broken down in order to understand this better; peripheral: in regard to peripheral neuropathy, refers to outside of the brain and spinal cord; neuro: means nerve related; -pathy; means disease. Peripheral mononeuropathy is a disorder that links to Peripheral Neuropathy, as it only effects a single peripheral nerve rather than several damaged or diseased nerves throughout the body. Healthy peripheral nerves are able to "carry messages from the brain and spinal cord to muscles, organs, and other body tissues". Peripheral neuropathy and mononeuropathy are common neurological disorders, with a diverse range of variables and causes to conclude a diagnosis. Neuropathy has three sub-classifications; mononeuropathy is a result of an entrapped or traumatised nerve or nerve area, Mononeuropathy multiplex is linked to chronic diseases like leprosy, and polyneuropathy is an outcome of systemic, metabolic or toxic aetiology.
Signs and symptoms The signs and symptoms of Peripheral mononeuropathy and neuropathy vary as a result of the types of individual and/or nerve areas affected. There are three types of nerve damage, including: "motor nerve damage, sensory nerve damage, and autonomic nerve damage". These sensory, motor and autonomic fibres which make up peripheral nerves have specific functions, which means that their involvement in neuropathic disorders can lead to "diverse symptoms, signs and electrodiagnostic (EDx) features", and a focus on such symptoms can be valuable in understanding and diagnosing varied cases of peripheral neuropathy and mononeuropathy.
Motor nerve damage This is usually correlated with muscle weakness, "other symptoms include painful cramps, fasciculations (uncontrolled muscle twitching visible under the skin) and muscle shrinking". Motor symptoms can usually be aided through "mechanical aids" such as hand or foot braces, orthopaedic shoes, splints, and in more severe cases procedures such as tendon transfers or bone fusions can take place. All of these aids and procedures can reduce physical disability, pain, pressured or compressed nerves and weaknesses.
Sensory nerve damage This is a broader category as sensory nerves have a broader function range, and therefore there are deviations in symptoms:
"Damage to large sensory fibres harms the ability to feel vibrations and touch, especially in the hands and feet", in some cases this may cause the individual to experience a similar feeling to wearing gloves and stockings. Sensory nerve damage may aid in the decline of reflexes, furthermore the ability to coordinate complex movements may be affected. For example: walking, balance and doing or undoing zippers and buttons. "Small-fibre polyneuropathy can interfere with the ability to feel pain or changes in temperature". For some individuals, neuropathic pain can be more prominent at night, which makes it harder to sleep and thus rest and recovery in order to rehabilitate nerve damage can be difficult. This may be a result of spontaneous stimulation in pain receptors or difficulties with signal processing, therefore resulting in light touches that are normally experienced as painless, to cause severe pain. In order to assist and improve in sensory nerve damage, which can be difficult to maintain without medication, some patients adopt behavioural strategies in order to manage chronic pain, along with emotional discrepancies that may follow the nerve injury (national institute of neurological disorders).
Autonomic nerve damage This "affects the axons in small-fibre neuropathies". Excess sweating, heat intolerance, unstable blood pressure, and gastrointestinal abnormalities are all symptoms that can be linked to autonomic nerve damage. Some peripheral neuropathic and mono-neuropathic disorders that stem from autonomic nerve damage include: "diabetes... Guillain-Barre syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, meralgia paresthetica...[and] complex regional pain syndrome". To improve autonomic nerve damage symptoms, patients can use complementary methods as well as medical management and medication. These methods can include therapies such as acupuncture, massages, herbal medications and much more.
Causes "Mononeuropathy refers to single peripheral nerve involvement and usually occurs due to trauma, nerve compression or entrapment". Isolated situations like pregnancy, thyroid disease or ones occupation (desk work or intense physical labour) can lead to mononeuropathy as a result entrapped nerve sites. Peripheral neuropathy and mononeuropathy can be a result of a variety of factors, but are a result of one of three methods:
Acquired neuropathies - this method of neuropathy is a result of environmental factors. Diabetes, alcoholism, poor nutrition, particular medications, cancer and/or chemotherapy, can all be classified as causes for acquired neuropathies. Hereditary neuropathies - these neuropathies stem from diseased genetically passed material that inherently make up the child's peripheral nervous system, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type1. Idiopathic neuropathies - these types of neuropathies are developed from an unknown cause.
Diagnosis Due to the fact that the symptoms of peripheral mononeuropathy and neuropathy can be so diverse, means that the diagnosis of neuropathies can often be difficult and therefore require more medical testing to ensure the appropriate diagnosis. Diagnosing neuropathic disorders often includes:
Medical history - this will include any previous diagnoses or disorders, triggers or symptoms that usually arise, and other factors such as work environment and social habits etc. Physical and neurological exams - the doctor will examine the patient to see if any other diseases or disorders have developed over time, and if it effects the diagnosis of a neuropathic disorder. Body fluid tests - blood tests are more valuable to detect things like diabetes of vitamin deficiencies, whilst other bodily fluids are not used as commonly. Genetic testing - used to see if any forms of neuropathy have been inherited from the patient's parents or grandparents.
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